Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Background The natural hydrodynamic process of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, has changed since the extension of Sultan Mahmud Airport runway in 2008. Consequently, severe coastal erosion has occurred in the area, particularly during the northeast monsoon season (NEM). Numerous types of coastal defense st...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/16203.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797626096542285824 |
|---|---|
| author | Nur Fazne Ibrahim Muzzalifah Abd Hamid Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir Meng Chuan Ong Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat Izwandy Idris |
| author_facet | Nur Fazne Ibrahim Muzzalifah Abd Hamid Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir Meng Chuan Ong Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat Izwandy Idris |
| author_sort | Nur Fazne Ibrahim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The natural hydrodynamic process of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, has changed since the extension of Sultan Mahmud Airport runway in 2008. Consequently, severe coastal erosion has occurred in the area, particularly during the northeast monsoon season (NEM). Numerous types of coastal defense structures (CDS) have been constructed to protect the coastline. Despite the loss of esthetic values, the effect of CDS construction on marine organisms in the area remains unknown. Hence, this study aims to assess the ecological aspects of macrobenthic compositions at the CDS area of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, based on the differences between the southwest (SWM) and northeast (NEM) monsoon seasons. Methods Macrobenthos were collected from the sediment in July (SWM) and December 2021 (NEM) using the Ponar grab at 12 substations from five sampling stations. Results The density of macrobenthos was higher in SWM (48,190.82 ind./m2) than in NEM (24,504.83 ind./m2), with phylum Mollusca recording the highest species composition (60–99.3%). The macrobenthos species had a low to moderate level of diversity (H’ = 1.4–3.1) with the species were almost evenly distributed (J’ = 0.2–0.8). Windward substations exhibited coarser grain sizes (38.56%–86.84%), whereas landward substations exhibited very fine grain sizes (44.26%–86.70%). The SWM season recorded a higher organic matter content (1.6%–6.33%) than the NEM season (0.4%–3.1%). However, metal concentrations in the surface sediment were within the safe range and permissible limits for both seasons, inferring that the macrobenthos composition was unaffected. Discussion This study demonstrated that the CDS associated with the monsoon system has controlled the hydrodynamics and nearshore sedimentary processes in the Kuala Nerus coastal zone, thereby affecting the macrobenthos population, in terms of richness and density. The ecological and energetic effects of the coastal structures in different seasons have resulted in a more significant result, with the SWM exhibiting a higher macrobenthos composition than the NEM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:05:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ac844f234fe493bb194b772c62ffcea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:05:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ac844f234fe493bb194b772c62ffcea2023-11-16T15:05:06ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-11-0111e1620310.7717/peerj.16203Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaNur Fazne Ibrahim0Muzzalifah Abd Hamid1Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir2Meng Chuan Ong3Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat4Izwandy Idris5Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaInstitute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaInstitute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaFaculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaInstitute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaSouth China Sea Repository and Reference Centre, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MalaysiaBackground The natural hydrodynamic process of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, has changed since the extension of Sultan Mahmud Airport runway in 2008. Consequently, severe coastal erosion has occurred in the area, particularly during the northeast monsoon season (NEM). Numerous types of coastal defense structures (CDS) have been constructed to protect the coastline. Despite the loss of esthetic values, the effect of CDS construction on marine organisms in the area remains unknown. Hence, this study aims to assess the ecological aspects of macrobenthic compositions at the CDS area of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, based on the differences between the southwest (SWM) and northeast (NEM) monsoon seasons. Methods Macrobenthos were collected from the sediment in July (SWM) and December 2021 (NEM) using the Ponar grab at 12 substations from five sampling stations. Results The density of macrobenthos was higher in SWM (48,190.82 ind./m2) than in NEM (24,504.83 ind./m2), with phylum Mollusca recording the highest species composition (60–99.3%). The macrobenthos species had a low to moderate level of diversity (H’ = 1.4–3.1) with the species were almost evenly distributed (J’ = 0.2–0.8). Windward substations exhibited coarser grain sizes (38.56%–86.84%), whereas landward substations exhibited very fine grain sizes (44.26%–86.70%). The SWM season recorded a higher organic matter content (1.6%–6.33%) than the NEM season (0.4%–3.1%). However, metal concentrations in the surface sediment were within the safe range and permissible limits for both seasons, inferring that the macrobenthos composition was unaffected. Discussion This study demonstrated that the CDS associated with the monsoon system has controlled the hydrodynamics and nearshore sedimentary processes in the Kuala Nerus coastal zone, thereby affecting the macrobenthos population, in terms of richness and density. The ecological and energetic effects of the coastal structures in different seasons have resulted in a more significant result, with the SWM exhibiting a higher macrobenthos composition than the NEM.https://peerj.com/articles/16203.pdfCoastal defense structureKuala NerusBenthic ecosystemBenthosBreakwatersMonsoon |
| spellingShingle | Nur Fazne Ibrahim Muzzalifah Abd Hamid Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir Meng Chuan Ong Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat Izwandy Idris Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia PeerJ Coastal defense structure Kuala Nerus Benthic ecosystem Benthos Breakwaters Monsoon |
| title | Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_full | Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_short | Seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures (CDS) in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_sort | seasonal benthic species composition linked to coastal defense structures cds in kuala nerus terengganu malaysia |
| topic | Coastal defense structure Kuala Nerus Benthic ecosystem Benthos Breakwaters Monsoon |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/16203.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nurfazneibrahim seasonalbenthicspeciescompositionlinkedtocoastaldefensestructurescdsinkualanerusterengganumalaysia AT muzzalifahabdhamid seasonalbenthicspeciescompositionlinkedtocoastaldefensestructurescdsinkualanerusterengganumalaysia AT mohdfadzilmohdakhir seasonalbenthicspeciescompositionlinkedtocoastaldefensestructurescdsinkualanerusterengganumalaysia AT mengchuanong seasonalbenthicspeciescompositionlinkedtocoastaldefensestructurescdsinkualanerusterengganumalaysia AT wanizatulasmawantalaat seasonalbenthicspeciescompositionlinkedtocoastaldefensestructurescdsinkualanerusterengganumalaysia AT izwandyidris seasonalbenthicspeciescompositionlinkedtocoastaldefensestructurescdsinkualanerusterengganumalaysia |